"I think she is still recovering indeed, delusional, at least what it looks like. We need to get her in a safe area, her leg doesn't look so good, and she may have lost alot of blood in the last 20 minutes."

Akagi moved forward, awaiting his friend's replies. They needed to work together on this.

you very much If a tree would fall in the woods.....would the other trees laugh at it?

" Alright, what do we do, I know nothing more than the basics..." Sam said. He blew a strand of blue hair out of his eyes. and noticed something in the shadows...Probably just nothing, after all, we are in the forest.
Sam doubted it, Takai was smart, but he was wrong on occasion. Sam left his hand of the grip just to be safe.
" We could make a splint and carry her to the nearest village, but that could take a while..." Sam said.

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Deep thought #1: In the end, everyone dies. No one can outrun time, death itself is always breathing down your neck, just waiting to slip the noose over you. But, in your time of death, what matters is not when or how or even why. What matters is what you do with it. Do you sit down and call it quits, or do you get up, stare your killer and death itself in the face, and laugh copiously, right until the end.

We need to get her in a safe area, her leg doesn't look so good, and she may have lost alot of blood in the last 20 minutes."

"Yes, I agree..." Tategami approached Karela, lifted her up and placed her on his large shoulders. "Lets find a secure spot to treat her wounds." Kaneda was amazed at how small Karela looked compared to Tategami when he is carrying her.

Borma had vanished back to his dimension, and the group began moving. Kaneda walked next to Asuka. "Did you know? About Karela being a Jinchuuriki, I mean."

Sam lead up the behind of the group, if anything tried a surprise attack, he'd take care of it personally. Sam closed his eyes, reaching out through his senses as his Sensei had told him to do. The forest teemed with life, but nothing showed intentions of harming them, yet. Boy, the beast, it's following us, a little more thant a kilometer out it's satying parallel with us!
Sam gripped on the handle a little tighter.
" Uh, guys? The thing that got Karela... It's still giving chase! We should hurry!" Sam said.

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Deep thought #1: In the end, everyone dies. No one can outrun time, death itself is always breathing down your neck, just waiting to slip the noose over you. But, in your time of death, what matters is not when or how or even why. What matters is what you do with it. Do you sit down and call it quits, or do you get up, stare your killer and death itself in the face, and laugh copiously, right until the end.

As Asuka continued to walk with lots on her mind, Kaneda came beside her.

"Did you know? About Karela being a Jinchuuriki, I mean."

The young girl glanced at Kaneda with worried eyes. The first time she ever encountered a Jinchuuriki was when she was in a duel. She nearly got herself killed and barely escaped. But she didn't want to talk about it. Not yet.

"No. No, I haven't known that. Guess this means the Bijuu sealed inside Karela might be deadly, huh?" She was getting more worried about the situation.

Suddenly, she heard Sam yell out an urgent.

" Uh, guys? The thing that got Karela... It's still giving chase! We should hurry!"

Tategami paused and looked back behind him. He sniffed the night air, and eyed through the trees. I can feel it too... its faint, but I can feel something...

"Wait!" he halted everyone. Kaneda listened in, and saw through the forest of trees a white light. It came close and closer.

"Uh... should we run?" Kaneda wondered outloud. No sense in keeping it to himself, if Tategami already knew what he was thinking.

"No... Just wait..."

The light came closer and closer, until it formed a figure in the short distance. It soared through the trees, maintaining its white glow. The soaring figure had a pair of wings... It eventually came up close to the group, and flew up into the sky. It white figure eventually disintigrated.

"What in the heck was that thing?" Kaneda said. Tategami looked up at the sky where the shards of white light rained down. Tategami looked down at the grass.

"Chakra... White Chakra... That thing that attacked Karela, was only an illusion! A Shadow of something powerful ahead..."

( Actually, it's sealed in the sword. but its cloe enough for me)Here it comes, boy. Takai said.
Sam pulled Takai out of it's sheath, holding it at the ready, only to find a white bulbous mass of chakra floating through.Holy!... Takai, we need to get moving, any ideas on how to get everyone going faster?
Takai paused, then answered; No, boy, whatever is going to happen is by your voliton, not mine, you can't come running to your dad or mom everytime a bully hits you in the face
Sam sighed, trying to find the words to get everyone moving.

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Deep thought #1: In the end, everyone dies. No one can outrun time, death itself is always breathing down your neck, just waiting to slip the noose over you. But, in your time of death, what matters is not when or how or even why. What matters is what you do with it. Do you sit down and call it quits, or do you get up, stare your killer and death itself in the face, and laugh copiously, right until the end.

After seeing that white light with pair of wings become shards, Asuka stood there, looking at the sky with both amazement and confusion. She never seen anything like that before. What could it have been?

"What in the heck was that thing?"

The young girl wanted to know as well, nodding her head towards Tategami. She looked at the others too.

"Chakra... White Chakra... That thing that attacked Karela, was only an illusion! A Shadow of something powerful ahead..."

"Oh man. I don't like this!" Asuka said, shaking her head. She was getting a little worried. If it had something to do with a Bijuu... Asuka gulped.

Sam pulled out Takai, the light ringing filling the air after it left the sheath.
" Akagi, I'm here with you, If nothing more than to give some honor back to your friend." Sam said, trying to remember what exactly happened between them.Boy, Get moving! Even with me, you don't stand a chance!Takai! I may not live, but if I help the group, all the better!Fine, but try not to wound yourself too much, my healing powers only work so well.
Sam nodded in affirmation.

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Deep thought #1: In the end, everyone dies. No one can outrun time, death itself is always breathing down your neck, just waiting to slip the noose over you. But, in your time of death, what matters is not when or how or even why. What matters is what you do with it. Do you sit down and call it quits, or do you get up, stare your killer and death itself in the face, and laugh copiously, right until the end.

Sam tried to answer, but came up with none. If it was actually an illusion, well then... Sam felt like a fool.

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Deep thought #1: In the end, everyone dies. No one can outrun time, death itself is always breathing down your neck, just waiting to slip the noose over you. But, in your time of death, what matters is not when or how or even why. What matters is what you do with it. Do you sit down and call it quits, or do you get up, stare your killer and death itself in the face, and laugh copiously, right until the end.

"I will take a look at your wounds once we get to a secure location. But I wouldn't recommend falling asleep yet. You've lost quite a bit of blood, and with that, sleep often melds with death, so stay awake."

Akagi helped the group lift Karela a bit higher. They needed to reach that secure location soon.

you very much If a tree would fall in the woods.....would the other trees laugh at it?

"Yes, my people have fought against many of these strange beasts, they caused great grief and terror in my lands. I've gone against a few, you could say, but my people and I still understand very little of these creatures. They have always been a great menace in my lands...."

Akagi saw Karela's eyes droop for a second.

"Stay awake. I understand that you may have some 'magical' ability, but it will help more to keep your eyes open..."

He let out a breath and finally sheathed his sword.

you very much If a tree would fall in the woods.....would the other trees laugh at it?

"it's not magic...it's the tailed beast. With her chakra I'm usually able to shrug off anything. but I'm a bit confused. How did your people manage to fight them? I mean no offense, but It usually takes a sealing jutsu to put them away and the Samuri don't seem like people who like using Jutsus."

I-I'm here.

What's wrong with you?! I was worried!

Something's wrong...I can't stay active anymore, I need to sleep or I'll die and i'm afraid if I die, you'll go out with me.

I'm certainly not going to argue with that, sleep. I'l stay awake.

Karela turned back to Akagi.

"What do you know about the Tailed beasts? We know of only nine of them."

Akagi smiled,"No offense taken. I understand where you're coming from. We Samurai have a long tradition of great skill as warriors. Without Jutsu, you'd think us weakl, but we have honor, we have warrior spirit. We managed to stop these creatures through our that spirit, charging, not fearing death. We fought our hardest against the beasts that ravaged our land, and we never gave up. After many years, we eventually created techniques to fighting the creatures, and we managed to defeat them. Though it came at great cost, we did it."

Akagi slipped, but maintained balance and kept running.

"What do we know about the tailed-beasts? Not much, but we have come to associate them mostly as demons, for their presence has never brought a blessing. I've run into more than nine myself. Others have seen more. At least, so we thought. Some have tried to study these creatures, but many of these attempts ended in failure. Are knowledge of them is limited only to our experience. That is why I am here, to learn more, not only on the Tailed-Beasts, but on all things of the outside world."

Akagi saw the campfire ahead.

"Do you have much 'chakra' on you? If not, I may be able to set any broken bones, or patch up any other flesh wound..."

you very much If a tree would fall in the woods.....would the other trees laugh at it?

"Do you have much 'chakra' on you? If not, I may be able to set any broken bones, or patch up any other flesh wound..."

"You'd be amazed at how much Chakra a Tailed Beast can carry." Kaneda added. "Seemingly limitless: Karela's wounds oughta heal in no time. Though I'm uncertain about broken bones."

Tategami dropped his pack onto the ground. "We'll rest here for tonight! We're arent far from the border, but we all need to recover on recent events."

Kaneda agreed. Swarms of explosive clay dogs and a hostile illusion of white chakra was enough to get him thinking. "What in the heck is going on here?"

Kaneda thought back at the flying winged formation of white chakra, that soared through the forest. The illusion that was shaped like a dragon...

____________________

The sun beamed down on Kaneda's face, as he struggled to pull his eyes open. "Ugh..." He grunted and moved around in his sleeping bag. "Morning already?" he pulled the sleeping bag over his face, and nodded back off to sleep.

His stomach dropped, as he felt himself being lifted up. His eyes grew wide open. "Huh?"

His entire body fell out of the sleeping bag. He sat up and looked up to see Tategami standing over him, holding his sleeping bag in one arm. "ALRIGHT! I'M UP, YOU OVERGROWN MUSCLED FREAK!!!" he yelled. Tategami smiled.

"Good morning, Kaneda-kun. My attempts at waking you up have ended in utter failure, until I resorted to this solution." He grinned with his eyes closed. "During the past hour, my attempts have included: pouring one bucket amount of water on you and clanged together several cooking utilities at a repetetive rhythm. Yet you still remained dreaming."

Kaneda grew irratated, and scowled at the large Jonin. "What is it with you and your mighty vocabulary skills?"

Morning came, as Asuka laid asleep in her sleeping bag. She dreamnt about that white chakra with wings. What was that thing? And who was sending all this illusion to her and her friends?

The young girl woke up from her slumber and yarned, stretching her arms out. As she scratched her head, she looked over at Kaneda, was out of his sleeping bag and on the ground. Tategami had a big grin on his face when he made Kaneda fall out of his sleeping bag.

"What is it with you and your mighty vocabulary skills?"

She smiled. "Well good morning, you two. I assume you had a good night sleep. Tell me, Kaneda... has Tategami become your alarm clock now?" Asuka laughed, as she got up from her sleeping bag.

Sam had woken up early, as he always did, to go for a quick jog and then some sparring against unknown targets in an imaginary field.
Sam came back in time to see Tategami lift Kaneda up like he was nothing more than a sack of potatoes.
" Hahaha, that's a good way to start the morning!" Sam said to himself.
The fire was still roaring, so he stepped out from teh foliage and sat down next to Akagi. As he warmed his hands, he asked.
" Uhmmmm.... Akagi? What exactly happened between me and your friend, I still seem to be drawing a blank."

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Deep thought #1: In the end, everyone dies. No one can outrun time, death itself is always breathing down your neck, just waiting to slip the noose over you. But, in your time of death, what matters is not when or how or even why. What matters is what you do with it. Do you sit down and call it quits, or do you get up, stare your killer and death itself in the face, and laugh copiously, right until the end.

"Well, you publically dishonored him, in front of nearly the entire training camp, then you slightly desecrated his home, and then, well, it was pretty shameful. But no worries, we will forgive, and try our best to forget, as much as I doubt that."

He yawned, he'd need to get a cup of tea going soon.

He looked to Karela,"In my lands, we have run into many creatures similar to the one last night, but I cannot say that I, or any of my people, have seen that creature. I'm sorry I could not be of more help."

He saw that most of her wounds were healed.

"Ahh! It seems a good nights rest has helped you."

you very much If a tree would fall in the woods.....would the other trees laugh at it?

"I wouldn't say it was a good nights rest. I was in alot of pain last night. When my sealed beast healed me, she had to focus alot of chakra into my wounds and that hurts. I passed out a few times last night. But I should be good to go."

Karela looked left and right and then asked Akagi a question in a hushed whisper.

"Akagi...have the Samuri ever managed to seal a tailed beast into someone's body? I'd really like to know."

In a return whisper he said, "No, my people would never try such a thing. But sometimes, the Tailed-Creatures would force themselves into one of my people, becoming one. The ones infected were always sad, they always heard voices in their head and could not control themselves, no matter how hard they tried. Sometimes, we would kill the infected, out of mercy. Luckily, not many have been entered by the Tailed-ones. Why do you ask?

Akagi scooted closer to Karela.

you very much If a tree would fall in the woods.....would the other trees laugh at it?

Sometimes, the Tailed-Creatures would force themselves into one of my people, becoming one.

That doesn't sound like something a tailed beast would do. They value their freedom.

"In these lands...We only have Nine known tailed beasts. The tailed beasts are usually sealed into people at a young age, normally when the hosts are infants. Sometimes, this is done as a sacrifice, one person has to deal with the tailed beast inside them, but the world is kept safe from them. Other times...the sealed beasts are used as weapons against other villages. The leader of our village, Naruto, has the nine-tailed demon fox sealed inside him. His father sealed it inside him to save the village."

Karela took a deep breath and lifted up the bottom of her shirt so Akagi could see the seal mark on her lower stomach.

"Here...the hosts to the tailed beasts are called Jinchuuriki, and they are often discriminated against, sometimes they are hunted down and killed. I'm one of them. I'm the host of the Seven-tailed panther."

Karela lowered her shirt and stared Akagi directly in the eyes.

"I wanted you to find out from me that not all of the tailed beasts are evil. Most of them are, but mine is different. She knows that as long as she stays sealed inside me, she's safe from most attacks. And in return, she heals me when I'm injured."

"I just want you to know, that the Jinchuuriki are not evil, they are heroes who made sure that the tailed beasts wouldn't hurt anyone. I want you to know this before someone tries to tell you otherwise."

Akagi nodded,"I did not mean to offend you, I am sorry if I did. I understand the love that your people have for these creatures, but my people have had different experiences. I understand though, that not all are bad, we just happened to get the ones that were..."

Akagi's mind drifted back to memories of some of those unpleasant encounters, but he quickly changed that by thinking on the positive side of things. At least Karela was healed, that was positive.

He chuckled to himself,"I have much to learn of this land."

you very much If a tree would fall in the woods.....would the other trees laugh at it?

"Oh no, you got it wrong! We don't love them! Most of them cause chaos and death wherever they go. They're sealed inside people as way to stop their occasional rampages. I'm just saying that a few of them are different, that's all."

Karela turned to look at Asuka and sighed.

"I heard rumors that she had a bad experience with one of the sealed beasts once, I hope I can talk to her about it as well."

"Like I said, it was sealed inside me when I was a baby. Don't get me wrong, she actually took care of me when I was little,when I cried she would try and comfort me the best she could. When I was growing up she would tell me stories about her previous hosts, and she came in handy during the chunin exams. She kept me alive. She may act tough, but she's sort of nice to me."

Karela looked up toward the sky and smiled.

"She told me that her previous host's village was once at war with the Village hidden in the clouds and that she fought the eight-tailed beast. Her host was killed fighting him and her previous host released her before she died."

Karela turned to Kaneda and frowned.

"She wandered the world until one day she came to the borders of the Hidden leaf village, she was attacked by the Hidden leaf shinobi and she somehow ended up sealed inside me. Even she doesn't know the full story, she was still disoriented from being seperated from her last host. I've always meant to ask Naruto the full story behind that."

Sam was listening to Karela's story. Although he had never dicriminated againts Jinchuuriki, especially when he learned about Naruto, his friends had. Sam never had that life, one of discrimination. He could only imagine what its like, and he almost asked, but then decided against it. The closest he could get to her feeling was Takai, he was brutish and wouldn't stop giving him orders. He often wondered where Takai came from, and occasionaly asked.
He only ever got silence from him when that happened.Because you have no need to know, at least not right now.... Just wait one day you'll find out boy. Takai whispered into his head.

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Deep thought #1: In the end, everyone dies. No one can outrun time, death itself is always breathing down your neck, just waiting to slip the noose over you. But, in your time of death, what matters is not when or how or even why. What matters is what you do with it. Do you sit down and call it quits, or do you get up, stare your killer and death itself in the face, and laugh copiously, right until the end.